Microsoft has revealed that the Internet Explorer 10 Metro version for Windows 8 will not feature browser plugins which are supported in many other internet browsers. This means that the websites which rely heavily on Flash and other content plugins will not be able to run in the Metro environment. However, one can easily access such websites in the conventional desktop mode.
There has been a great deal of advancement in basic Web technologies and with the development of HTML5, it is expected that dependence on plugins like Flash will reduce drastically in the coming years. There is no denying that plugins make web surfing a much more enjoyable and easier experience but developers are facing a hard time in customizing their plugins for all the various platforms & devices like mobiles, tablets etc. It is a fact that many of today’s mobile devices allow for a decent web browsing experience even without Flash, like the Apple iPad. The iPad is the best selling tablet yet and though many analysts have blasted the device for its lack of Flash, most users seem to have no problem whatsoever. Some Android tablets also do not support Flash.
Many popular websites that feature Flash based content also have a standard version for mobile devices like iPad/iPhone so that all users can have access to their content. Microsoft is also looking to ensure that Windows 8 Metro tablets and other devices have access to plugin-free versions of websites. Microsoft have already stated that the Windows 8 will have a default Metro style user interface and the latest Internet Explorer will feature advanced web technologies like HTML 5, which is expected to replace Adobe Flash in the near future.
The technical details of the various changes in this version can be viewed in the official Internet Explorer Blog which also explains how the alterations will affect web developers. In a recent post on the official blog operated by Microsoft software engineers, John Hrvatin discussed the various benefits offered by browsers which don’t depend on plugins, battery life in particular. The Internet Explorer Program Manager also expressed his belief that web developers should display greater support and development of devices which run without plugins like Flash for the simple reason that they offer much greater efficiency. Browser plugins are also a vulnerable aspect from the privacy and security point of view.
April 23, 2012 at 8:07 pm
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